• I agree afternoon session is quite a challenge. But even if it was the morning session, it would still be quite a challenge. It pains me everything I come to speak about Iraq, because every time I do so, the situation in Iraq is worse.
• Before I start I would like to thank very much and sincerely Dr Mahatir and Siti Hasmah, for your friendship if I may be immodest and hospitality, as I as a KL or Perdana veteran enjoy when I come here, thank you.
• I also want to say, based on what I have seen this time, the exhibition, what I've read and hear, from speakers and Malaysian friends, to you Dr Mahatir, that I accept the pledge to vote only in forthcoming German election for candidates that reject war for peace.
• But that is not enough. I also want to say that I do not at all accept the solution in the fight against so called terrorism by military means. I want to see that responsible governments are tackling the causes, the cause of double standards, tolerance, poverty and discrimination.
• To the young, I know there are many looking forward to a good life. Be frightened, but don't be discouraged. Be encouraged. Encouraged by initiatives of the kind we have seen, from the leadership of Dr Mahatir and his team.
• I tend to be discouraged but am encouraged when I see across world an awakening by civil society, to hold hands and do better than governments do.
• On the subject, economic sanctions as Weapons of Mass Destruction, I want to start by what is the difference, between economic sanctions and military weapons. One diff, is the UN Charter.
• The UN charter defines, what we do when we are attacked. The international community has the right to disrupt economic and political sanctions with others to restore peace and security.
• That is simple answer. It is the other answer that disturbs us.
• The other answer is Iraq.
• This is not an invented story. There was and maybe still is, Ahmed la Alhbani., In early May 2003, this father, 7 weeks after operation Shock and Awe, the US operation without mandate, the illegal war. He went to market and a single shot, extinguished the life of Ahmed, his 12 year old son. Dead, victim of the occupation force. He is buried in a little grave, next to his brother Fareed. He died 6 years earlier of cholera, without medicines or hospital care.
• What answer would their parents give to the question? What is difference between economic sanctions and war?
• I don't need to tell you answer, you know the answer.
• if we look beyond immediate reasons, for this confrontation between nations, through wear and sanctions, what sticks out?
• I could have flashing overheads that say - equal rights and double standards - two key concepts that explain why we have the situation of war and sanctions
• There is no just military actions. There is no just sanctions. Unless sanctions by UN charter, and monitored by UN security council.
• And just as no just military action, and sanctions, there is no just globalization until such time global resources are shared responsibly and equitably. The gap between where we are and we could be, in 2007, is enormously wide in our approach towards more equitable and just distribution of good for our planet.
• If you have seen the annual UNDP reports, then you know what I mean about the gap. Today I want to single out just 3 aspects; life expectancy, education and income.
• If you live in Japan, your life expectancy is 82 years. In Zambia, it's 37 years. If you go to school in Finland, 99% of your cohorts, your age group, go to school. If you live in Mali, in West Africa, 19% of the young have a chance to go to school and become literate. If you were born in born in Norway, your average income is 38 thousand USD. In Ethopia, it is 750 USD.
• The difference between the haves and have nots, instead of coming together, is widening. That is a major reason for global turmoil.
• The haves are aware of this. If you read the political rhetoric, you will find many high powered statements. However there is fundamental inadequacy of political will to do something.
• Rich countries are not even coming close to the suggested aid contribution of of 0.7% of GDP, the average amount is only 0.3%. But you see governments spending 8.2 billions dollars a month to maintain war in Iraq. There is a gap here as well, between promises and fulfillment. More aid, forgiveness of debts, are very, very, slow processes.
• The majority of global citizens, see unimaginable wealth passing hands, while their hands remain empty.
• The number of cynics, who say "politics? leave me alone, I want nothing with politics". is increasing among the young.
• Awhile ago a young Frenchman met French President Jacques Chirac and asked, "why I must vote?". Today's politician don't understand the mind of youth.
• Where are today's role models for peace, compassion and humility.
• A wonderful Malaysian proverb, the taller the bamboo, the lower it can bend. But where is that humility?
• Instead the debate in my country, is whether war games machines should be replaced, that can be found around town. Why debate that? It should be thrown out and replaced with more peaceful instruments.
• But what has all this o do with my topic? A lot.
• If you have closer look at economic sanctions, Iraq is an extreme case. No other country has been subjected to such severe forms of punishment.
• It was a punitive approach, people of Iraq were punished for something they didn't do. 13 years, millions dead and many more disabled. People traumatized, education destroyed, health system defunct.
• When journalists talk of the breakup of Iraq and division, the stage was set during sanctions, to create the false ethnic divide between Kurds and Iraqis. For ex, through the Washington agreement, a wedge was driven between Arabs and Kurds.
• It's not just the US and UK to be blamed, but the entire UN SC. They knew, but didn't act, didn't amend.
• The one honorable exception was the representative of Malaysia, ambassador Tan Sri Hasmi, said "How ironic is it that the same policy that is supposed to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction has itself become a weapons of mass destruction".
• I salute the ambassador, this was a very courageous statement.
• But let us go beyond Iraqi sanctions. What about the small fruit farmer in Latin America or the coco producer in West Africa or the carpet weaver in South Asia. Their efforts blocked by the west, to bring products into the west. But their markets are full of products from the west.
• Another form, less overt and definable, but similar impact of kinds of sanction imposed on Iraq, on the many countries that badly need equitable trade practices.
• Why did the Doha round fail? It failed because - be encouraged, there is more aware and more rejection - recognition that trade barriers cause destitution, destruction, disease and death. A hidden WMD, but clearly a WMD.
• If the 20th century was century of national independence, many countries became independent. In 1945, the UN had 51 members, today it has 192. The greatest development was independence. If I have to categorize the 21st century, then it is a century of national awareness. It cannot fool us. There is an awareness of inequality and double standards
• The western approach of tackling symptoms and not causes, is a major reason why we're not making progress. The thing that we on the peace and activist side, the major problem is institutional dishonesty, the damn lying. It is so hard to get at by civil society. But we have to try by informing ourselves as best as we can.
• Another factor here that influences the international global picture, I have to mention, and my American friends will accept, the damage that the US plans for new century has done to international relations. NATO is undergoing massive change. It was set to be a peaceful body, but is now engaged in political tasks - in Afghanistan and everywhere.
• The total picture is cocktail of different factors, which at best maintains poverty, conflict, inequality and at worst is lethal.
• To conclude, I tried to move and show the transparent and imposed deprivation in Iraq and more indirect deprivation called economic sanctions.
• Economic sanctions have many phases, most brutal in Iraq, but many among the world, among 6.5 billion that was harmed by this economic sanctions.
• What are the lessons?
• In order to cause a shadow to disappear, you must shine light. Where there is light, there is no shadow. We must be clear about where to go, what we want.
• We can all talk, talk less and do a lot more.
• We must all talk, it takes courage to speak out, don't fear humiliation. I've heard plenty. I've been accused of being corrupt, playing in pockets of Iraqi govt. There is a German word - goodmechs - sarcastically forget about this man, he is a good man.
• There are no elephants in Germany, but I have elephant skin. It is easy, it is human to point fingers at others and say - do something about peace.
• We can also do something about peace
• As a fourth point, we must know the issues and distinguish between fact and fiction. Not drown in conspiracy, the world is full of conspiracies. Tsunamis of disinformation, we must know the facts to swim through it.
• Finally, I repeat what Kofi Annan said and keeps saying, the glue of common interests. Let us discover the glue of common interests.
• Yesterday, 40 ppl sat around the table, and this was a new UN in the making. The only difference, these were people from all walks of life, except government. Civil society from many different fields, from Canada to Asia to Europe to all over the world, unite here in a common cause, in order to produce this glue of coming interest.

I thank you very much for your patience